2010-27543 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2010 - 27543
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONSENTING TO AND
CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD G. LORBER AS THE
ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
WHEREAS, the City Manager has appointed Richard G. Lorber as the Acting
Director of the Planning Department for the City of Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City of Miami Beach
Charter, the City Manager has power to appointment directors of the City departments
with the consent and conformance of the Mayor and the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Commission wish to consent to and confirm
the appointment of Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning Department
for the City of Miami Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, have consented to and
confirmed the appointment of Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning
Department for the City of Miami Beach.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 1 day of 404/4f6er , 2010.
OR
ATTEST:
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FORM & LANGUAGE
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COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
Consenting to the appointment of Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning Department
for the City of Miami Beach.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
• Protect historic building stock.
• Maintain strong growth management policies.
• Increase community satisfaction with City government.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): N/A
Issue:
Shall the Mayor and City Commission adopt the attached Resolution consenting and confirming Richard
G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning Department?
Item Summary/Recommendation:
The Planning Department prepares, updates, and maintains neighborhood and Citywide plans and
technical data for the City pursuant to Florida Statutes, and is responsible for providing professional
analysis and recommendations to the City Manager and Commission on all land development issues.
The Planning Department also updates and maintains compliance with the state - mandated
comprehensive plan; reviews all building permits for compliance with the land development regulations,
consistency with architectural review guidelines and preservation appropriateness criteria; conducts
studies on specialized topics; and creates plans for neighborhoods and conservation districts. The
Department prepares recommendations for the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Design Review
Board and Historic Preservation Board. The Planning Director organizes, staffs, directs and controls all
activities of the Department. The Director serves as chief of staff to the Planning Board, Board of
Adjustment, Design Review Board and Historic Preservation Board. The Director is responsible for
preparation and interpretation of the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City of Miami Beach Charter requires the consent of the City Commission
for the appointments of Department Directors. While this provision has been traditionally applied to the
permanent appointment of Department Directors, it has been suggested that similar consent should be
granted for "Acting" Director appointments which occur from time to time as Department Director positions
become vacant pending the recruitment and selection process.
Richard Lorber has been serving as the "Acting" Planning Director since December 2009 and as such, it is
recommended that the Mayor and the City Commission adopt the attached resolution consenting and
confirming Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning Department. Mr. Lorber has over
seventeen (17) years of experience in urban planning. He has worked for the City of Miami Beach since
1998 and has held a number of progressively responsible positions in the Planning Department during that
time.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
N/A
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account Approved
Funds: 1
2
3
4
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary:
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Ramiro Inguanzo, Human Resources
Sign - Offs:
Department Director � . is .. nt C, Mana • erg ana • er
AlFW- y• ,
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Date Il -J"L�O
MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: November 17, 2010
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONSENTING TO AND CONFIRMING THE
APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD G. LORBER AS THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Mayor and Commission adopt the attached resolution
consenting and confirming Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning
Department for the City of Miami Beach.
Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City of Miami Beach Charter requires the consent of the
City Commission for the appointments of Department Directors. While this provision
has been traditionally applied to the permanent appointment of Department Directors, it
has been suggested that similar consent should be granted for "Acting" Director
appointments which occur from time to time as Department Director positions become
vacant pending the recruitment and selection process.
Given that Mr. Lorber is the Acting Director and thus performing the duties of the
Director, his acting appointment is being presented to the Mayor and Commission for
consent.
ANALYSIS
The Planning Department prepares, updates, and maintains neighborhood and Citywide
plans and technical data for the City pursuant to Florida Statutes, and is responsible for
providing professional analysis and recommendations to the City Manager and
Commission on all land development issues. The Planning Department also updates
and maintains compliance with the state - mandated comprehensive plan; reviews all
building permits for compliance with the land development regulations, consistency with
architectural review guidelines and preservation appropriateness criteria; conducts
studies on specialized topics; and creates plans for neighborhoods and conservation
districts. The Department prepares recommendations for the Planning Board, Board of
Adjustment, Design Review Board and Historic Preservation Board.
The Planning Director organizes, staffs, directs and controls all activities of the
Department. The Director serves as chief of staff to the Planning Board, Board of
Adjustment, Design Review Board and Historic Preservation Board. The Director is
responsible for preparation and interpretation of the City's Comprehensive Plan and
Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Lorber has over 17 years of experience in urban planning, with a proven record of
progressively challenging work assignments. A copy of his resume is attached.
Mr. Lorber first joined the City of Miami Beach in June 1998 as the Principal
Planner /Senior Planner. Two years later, Mr. Lorber left the City to become the Planning
Director for the City of South Miami, a position he held until June 2003.
In June 2003, Mr. Lorber returned to the City of Miami Beach, accepting the position of
Planning and Zoning Manager. In this role, Mr. Lorber managed all aspects of the
Planning and Zoning Section, and was the principal staff representative to the Planning
Board and the Board of Adjustment.
Most recently, from October 2009 to the present, Mr. Lorber has been serving as the
City's Acting Planning Director. As such, he is responsible for managing the operations
of the Planning Department, serving as chief of staff to all development review boards,
and making presentations to the City Commission and community groups on planning
and related issues. Mr. Lorber issues official interpretations of the Zoning Code, and
serves as mediator on zoning compliance disputes.
Mr. Lorber holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic
University; a Master of Arts in Economics from Florida International University; and a
Bachelor of Arts in Economics from New England College. Mr. Lorber is a LEED
Accredited Professional from the U.S. Green Building Council and a member of the
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
CONCLUSION
The appointment of Richard G. Lorber as Acting Director of the Planning Department will
ensure that the City continues its nationally and internationally recognized tradition of
progressive urban design and planning leadership.
Pursuant to the requirements of Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City Charter, it is
recommended that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the resolution consenting and
confirming Richard G. Lorber as the Acting Director of the Planning Department.
T:\AGENDA\2010 \November 17 \Consent \Richad G. Lorber Commission Memorandum.docx
Richard G. Lorber, AICP, LEED AP
Experience
October 2009 - present 1 Acting Planning Director
City of Miami Beach Planning Department
Responsible for managing the operations of the Planning Department and supervising all staff. Serving as chief of staff
to all development review boards, and making presentations to the City Commission and community groups on
planning and related issues. Interpreting the Zoning Code, issuing official interpretations, and serving as mediator
regarding disputes on zoning compliance. Coordinating planning issues with other City Departments, and responding
to citizens and Commission inquiries and complaints regarding planning and development issues.
June 2003 - October 2009 1 Planning and Zoning Manager
City of Miami Beach Planning Department
Manages and coordinates all aspects of the Planning and Zoning Section, including interviewing and hiring new
personnel, budget preparation, information technology and other administrative functions. Principal staff to the
Planning Board and Board of Adjustment, writes legislation, prepares reports and presentations to City Commission
regarding Land Development Regulations and the Comprehensive Plan. Represents the City Administration and
Planning Department at public hearings and meetings. Chair of the City's G.I.S. User Group.
December 2000 - June 2003 1 Planning Director
City of South Miami Planning Department
Responsible for all planning and zoning activities of the City. Supervised Planning department staff, coordinated
departmental and consultant work products, provided for City compliance with Florida Statues concerning required
planning functions, and provided staff services to the Planning Board, Environmental Review & Historic Preservation
Board (ERPB), and other boards and committees.
June 1998 - December 2000 1 Principal Planner / Senior Planner
City of Miami Beach Planning Department
Principal staff to Planning Board, prepared reports and presentations to the Board. Wrote amendments to the Zoning
Ordinance dealing with development and land use regulations, including major citywide downzoning initiative.
Coordinated the City's Comprehensive Plan Amendment process.
July 1995 - June 1998 1 Associate Planner
Broward County Planning Council
Responsible for transportation and land use planning as part of a countywide comprehensive planning agency.
July 1993 - July 1995 1 Planning Analyst
Broward County Dept. Of Strategic Planning And Growth Management
Transportation Planning Division
Planning efforts focused on transportation planning and mass transit coordination.
Education
Florida Atlantic University 1 Master of Urban and Regional Planning
• 1997
Florida International University 1 Master of Arts, Economics
• 1988
New England College 1 Bachelor of Arts, Economics
• 1983 / Dean's List 1980, 1982
Professional / Service
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
• Member / Certified Planner
U.S. Green Building Council
• LEED Accredited Professional
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS)
• Command and General Staff Training IS -100 through IS -800
• IS -253 Coordinating Environmental and Historic Preservation Compliance
Leadership Miami
• Class of 1999 -2000
Florida Atlantic University
• Adjunct Professor, School of Urban and Public Affairs 2000 -2002
American Planning Association, Florida Chapter
• Chairman, Executive Committee, Gold Coast Section 2000 -2002
City of Hollywood
• Citizens Transportation Committee 1996 -1999
National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Inducted March 1997
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